Military chases after Abu; Canadian victim’s ID confirmed

SOLDIERS discovered two abandoned Abu Sayyaf camps in clearing operations in Jolo, but so far failed to locate the two hostages who had been held along with Canadian Robert Hall who was beheaded last week.

The camps could accommodate about 150 people and had trenches that supplied running potable water, the military Western Command said. Also found were hammocks, water containers and other belongings believed to be the rebels’.

They were found Monday in Baragay Sinuman, Talipao town.

“We continue to scour and conduct blockades  as we intensify military operations in Sulu to pin down the Abu Sayyaf and rescue the remaining hostages,” said local Philippine Army spokesperson Maj. Felimon Tan.

In Manila, the Philippine National Police confirmed Tuesday the decapitated head it recovered in Jolo last week was Hall’s.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Aranas, PNP Crime Laboratory director, said this was based on a comparison of the victim’s DNA with the samples from the recovered head.

The Canadian government through its National Forensic Laboratory Services gave the PNP Hall’s DNA profile.

“We have confirmed the identification of the decapitated head—it was the kidnap victim Robert Hall… The DNA experts compared the DNA profile and it matched 100 percent,” Aranas told a press briefing, adding that the head had been turned over to Canadian authorities.

2nd executed hostage

Hall’s body has yet to be found. He was one of four hostages snatched from Samal Island in September by the Abu Sayyaf, and the second foreign hostage executed after fellow Canadian John Ridsdel was beheaded on April 25.

Hall was killed on June 13 after the Abu Sayyaf’s deadline for payment of the P600-million ransom for himself and the two other hostages lapsed. His head was found near the Jolo Cathedral later that day.

Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino woman Maritess Flor are still believed to be alive and held by the Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippines does not have a DNA bank although Aranas said the PNP had the capacity to extract DNA profiles and compile them into a database. He said the PNP was planning to establish DNA testing facilities in the Visayas and Mindanao as well as fingerprint and DNA banks.